I've been on a few threads this morning and there's a lot of talk about the AT's etc, and which dances look like they have the proper steps and which don't. Also how most of the salsa's on the show aren't salsa's at all and are actually samba's

Some of the dances I love from the show aren't actually the dances at all But I love to watch them, and as someone with only basic salsa experience I wouldn't be the wiser about what steps should go in a paso (or even a salsa it turns out lol) etc etc.

So, I'm wondering, should this make a difference to how people percieve the dances if a lot of the audience are none the wiser? And people in the know, would you rather have a dance with all the proper content of the dance that maybe isn't a crowd pleaser, or, a crowd pleaser with hardly any content?

Hmmmmm.....sorry for the ramble.

none the wiser. Although I can spot errors in feet and posture and frame like most people.

I just like to enjoy a dance. Which Tom always seems to do. As Bruno said he dances with flair which makes even the most boring of fox trots really exciting to watch.

I know, it's a bit of a shock to read threads where people talk about dancing. I'm sure we'll get back to normal default whinge / worship mode soon enough


Well, there's a good question about how much is "show" content, and how much is "dance" content.

To be honest, I think this question is particularly relevant with the social dances (salsa and AT), because people do dance these at the moment in large numbers, and because the social dancing is very different from the exhibition / competition dancing.

Whereas the ballroom dances are far less socially-danced, the whole scene is basically driven by competitions and examinations from what I can see. So it's easier to judge those and they look more like what people are used to.


Depends on the context again - social or exhibition.

Agree, someone who you can tell is really enjoying the dance can make up for little mistakes as its infectious.


Wouldn't it be exhibition in Strictly? As they're choreographed. I know very little so may have got these definitions wrong.

Hey Minty - another good question about dancing! I know nothing about dancing and I admit I love the faster maybe more crowd pleasing dances that woop up the audience a bit, my personal favourites being the jive and the quickstep.

I think as with most things there is probably a balance - it seems to me that if e.g. in a waltz the choreography involves the heel leads etc. and correct thechnique then it gives it its crowd pleasing quality i.e. the rise and fall and drive. Again I think with dances like the jive and quickstep if the pros put in lots of content it kind of adds to the performance element as long as its done well. I think the key is that whatever the pros put in they need to be able to make sure that the celeb can do it well as that will then free them up to perform too.

Oh heck, I've just talked in circles, it's interesting to think about thought!

There isn't really a specific "exhibition style" in salsa - possibly because the whole dance is quite exhibitionistic anyway. The producers have said that the style is "Cuban salsa", but that's basically rubbish. In fact, Brian's excellent attempt looked more like LA style to me from what I recall.

There is a brand of Tango which is specifically for show dancing - Tango Fantasia. Lots of flashy footwork and occasional lifts, basically. It's the stuff that V&F traditionally do, or that Mark & Karen did with their excellent attempt.

Thanks David.

Once I think I read Len said something like, 'You can plonk any thing in a salsa.' Is that true? Because it sounds like there's so many different types of salsa that you can, very broad.

Hi Walrus

I know it'd make it much too complicated but I'd like to see separate marks for content/technical ability and performance.